This collection has about 600 editions
of the works of Laurence Sterne, together with imitations and other Sterneana,
collected by John Claude Trewinard Oates (1912-1990). Oates was mainly
concerned with editions prior to 1800, and was also interested in pre-1800
translations, American imprints, and Irish pirate copies.

Oates worked in the Cambridge University Library, and was
president of the Bibliographical Societies of London and Cambridge. He also
published the library's Incunable catalogue in 1954, and the first volume of
the history of the University Library in 1986.

The image above is a detail from the frontispiece of
Laurence Sterne, 1713-1768.The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy,
gentleman. Volume Three. London: R. & J. Dodsley, 1761. Click on the
image to see the full frontispiece and title page.

References and further reading:

Oates, J.C.T. Studies in English printing and
libraries. London, 1991

Monkman,K. and Oates, J.C.T. Towards a Sterne
Bibliography. Books and other material displayed at the Sterne Conference in The Winged Skull: Papers from the Laurence Sterne Bicentenary Conference London, 1971